1, If the decision to use Worldpay was not taken by the TFL board who's responsible for it? 2, What impact assessment was carried out in relation to the credit card processing charge being passed on to the cab driver? And who made that decision? 3, If Bob Oddy withdrew from and took no part in discussions in relation to Taxi/PH issues, what part did he play on the TFL board?

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TfL Ref: FOI-1120-1718 & FOI-1121-1718 

 

Thank you for your emails asking about card payments in taxis. 

 

Your requests have been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked: 

 

FOI-1120-1718 

1, If the decision to use Worldpay was not taken by the TFL board who's responsible for it? 

We do not hold this information. We have not approved any Worldpay card payment devices or systems for use in taxis. Whether Worldpay have any other involvement in the payment of a taxi fare by using a card payment device is a matter for the parties to that transaction, and not TfL. 

 

2, What impact assessment was carried out in relation to the credit card processing charge being passed on to the cab driver? 

And who made that decision? 

In 2015 we held a public consultation on card payments in taxis and whether passengers should be able to pay by card in all licensed taxis in London. A copy of the consultation and subsequent report is available here: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/taxis/card-payment. The consultation asked if the card payment surcharge should be changed and the majority of respondents to the consultation stated that the surcharge should be reduced or removed completely. The additional information in the consultation included a section about the card payment surcharge. 

 

As well as the card payment consultation, in 2015 we also consulted on changes to taxi fares and tariffs. A copy of this consultation is available here: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tph/taxi-fare-and-tariff-review-2016. One of the questions in this consultation was about the minimum fare and if this should be increased. Following the consultation it was recommended that the minimum fare should be increased by 20 pence in response to passengers being able to pay by card in all taxis and the card payment surcharge being removed. This increase to the minimum fare was intended to compensate drivers for the costs associated with accepting card payments.  

 

Changes to taxi fares and tariffs are considered and approved by the Transport for London (TfL) Board. The Board also approved the recommendations regarding card payments in taxis including the recommendations that passengers should be able to pay by card in all licensed taxis and that the card payment surcharge should be removed.  

 

Copies of the papers considered by the TfL Board are available here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/board-papers/2016-board-papers.  

 

3, If Bob Oddy withdrew from and took no part in discussions in relation to Taxi/PH issues, what part did he play on the TFL board? 

Decisions about the taxi and private hire trade are only a small part of the issues that the Board considers. Information on the issues that the Board deals with and the Committees and Panels that Bob Oddy served on are all contained in our annual reports and on the agendas and papers for those meetings, which are all available on our website. 

 

FOI-1121-1718 

1, Will Ron Kalifa benefit personally from the sale? 

2, How much has Worldpay earned as a result of their involvement with the London Cab Trade? 

3, What changes will occur, if any, to the charges incurred by the cab driver should the sale go through? 

We do not hold this information. Although your request can take the form of a question, rather than a request for specific documents, we do not have to answer your question if it would require the creation of new information or the provision of a judgement, explanation, advice or opinion that was not already recorded at the time of your request.  

 

4, Given his managerial position with Worldpay why is his seat on TFL's board not become untenable? 

Mr Kalifa was appointed to the TfL Board on 5 September 2016. The TfL Board decision to require London Taxi cabs to be able to accept card payments was made seven months prior to that on 3 February 2016. Mr Kalifa has played no part in TfL’s decision to require London Taxi cabs to accept credit card payments and has taken no part in any TfL decision in relation to taxi and private hire matters since his appointment.  

 

The attached information sheet provides details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. 

 

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

 

Yours sincerely 

 

Lee Hill 

Senior FOI Case Officer 

 

FOI Case Management Team 

General Counsel 

Transport for London 

 

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